Re: Last chance for 2003

["Dan" <danielpwillis@xxxx>]

I'd love to as well (not with the D as I don't intend to ever drive it agai=
n!) but 
I'm due to be away that weekend. Shame. 
 
Should be a nice day out for those that do go. 
 
Dan 
Porsche 911 
 
 
 
--- In doc-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Christopher Hawes" <chris@xxxx> wrote: 
> Hello all, 
>  
> In Houston, May 2003 an opportunity was given kindly by DMC Houston 
to run a 
> number of their DeLorean's on the Houston Raceway Dragstrip. Some of 
the 
> American owners also allowed us to drive their cars too. The most 
memorable 
> DeLorean for me had a Camaro 'muffler' added which gave a very 
distinctive 
> exhaust note to this fine April 1981 model. This same owner had driven 
for 
> over 20 hours from Kansas for the overall Houston DeLorean event which 
> included the warehouse tour amongst other activities. (annoying Did You =

> Know!!! They have enough doors in stock to complete another 400 
DeLorean's). 
>  
> Out of us Brits the fastest times were set in the DMC Houston 'works 
> special' which had a stage upgrade up to 200bhp. The car was quick and 
I 
> set the fastest quarter mile time of 16.409 seconds and a top speed of 
> 84.61mph. I felt pretty pleased with myself until in the last closing 
> minutes Martin 'lead foot' Gutkowski beat my time I think by around a 1/1=
0 
> of a second. 
>  
> This now leads me on to the now booked DeLorean Owners Club UK 
event at the 
> SantaPod raceway http://www.santapod.com and http://www.rwyb.com in 
> Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. 
>  
> On Sunday 2nd November the weekend before the Classic Car Show at 
the NEC I 
> have booked an area for the DeLorean Owners Club. Currently there is a 
> patch large enough to hold up to 10 cars. This is obviously including 
> friends of the club who have Lamborghini Diablo's or rare Nissan Skyline'=
s 
> (you know who you are). This will provide a great day out for all as tho=
se 
> who want to show their cars off and not use the drag strip are more than =

> welcome. It will also raise the profile of the DeLorean DMC-12 and also =

> boost club awareness. I am sure a group of DeLorean's will attract a lot=
 
of 
> positive attention and all eyes will be on those entering the drag strip.=
.. 
>  
> For those who want to take their car onto the track you will need:- 
>  
> 1. A full UK driving licence or Racing licence 
> 2. Seat belt is mandatory for your own safety 
> 3. Helmets required for bikes and open top cars and vehicles doing 100 
mph 
> or more at the finish line (no DeLorean will top 90mph in the 1/4 mile 
> unless it has had an engine transplant). 
> 4. Current MOT certificate 
>  
> The venue normally opens at 8.00am with track runs starting at 
10.00am-5pm. 
> Normal admission £10 plus one-off signing on fee of £15 for unlimited 
runs. 
> Directions to Santa Pod are on the website. I would suggest that we meet=
 
in 
> the morning from 10am and then those who want to take their cars from 
the 
> grassed/gravel area onto the track around 1pm. This ensures that those 
who 
> are travelling some distance to this (near centrally located in the UK) 
> event will arrive in time to spectate and participate in the actual drag =

> strip part of the day. 
>  
> The Gauntlet has been laid..... for those who want to take their cars on =
to 
> the drag strip and find out how quick their cars really are. It is up to=
 
> the owner, whether to risk taking their car onto the drag strip without 
> additional insurance as most standard policies do not cover this. A drag=
 
> strip event such as this is low risk compared to a racing circuit as it 
> allows you to take your car to its limit (acceleration wise) in a safe an=
d 
> controlled environment. A drag strip by its very nature means no turns o=
r 
> contact points between competing cars which makes it safer than a racing =

> circuit. It allows you to compete with yourself so that in reality it is=
 
> your own time you are trying to improve upon. 
>  
> I have had my car up to 115mph at 4000rpm in 5th in a safe controlled 
> environment (ran out of room to keep on accelerating) which made me 
think to 
> how far around the 170mph speedo I can go with the additional 2500rpm 
left 
> before I hit the red line. This will not be achievable at Santa Pod as t=
he 
> drag strip is only 1/4 mile long. However next year based on the interes=
t 
> for this event a track day could be arranged to find this out. 
>  
> Please email the list or myself privately if you are interested in going.=
 
> If there are enough cars booked within the next week I may be able to get=
 
a 
> club discount. 
>  
> Looking forward now to being at Santa Pod in Wellingborough on Sunday 
2nd 
> November. 
>  
> Chris Hawes 
> vin5255 
> p.s. Any car can go onto the drag strip. In Houston we also had a go wit=
h 
> our rental Chryslers and Ford Explorers. One enthusiast took his series =

III 
> Jaguar E-Type and achieved a 1/4 mile time of around 92mph.